THE LEGHORNS 



permissible, because Leghorns up to S lbs. in weight have 

 taken part in laying competitions in this country. Many 

 believe that an increase over the average weight of the 

 .American layers is due to a cross with one of the sitting 

 breeds, and that if the increase of size is not overdone it 

 is advantageous as conducive to a larger number of eggs 

 in the winter months, and this is rather to be encouraged, 

 provided it does not affect the size of the eggs or the total 

 number laid within the year. It must, however, not be 

 forgotten that the food bill depends to a great extent on 

 the size of the bird, and that, looking at fowls entirely 

 as egg producers, which is their principal office, the value 

 of the eggs on one side against the cost of the food on 

 the other is the fundamental and only source from which 

 a profit can be derived. It is on these economical lines 

 that the Danes, the Americans and the Australians keep 

 down tlie size of their Leghorns as much as possible. 



We claim, therefore that bred on these lines our exhi- 

 bition birds are but glorified specimens of the variety, re- 

 taining their economic value as layers, and that there is 

 only one stamp of Buff Leghorn which can be seen in the 

 farmer.-.' fields and in the exhibition pen. 



It would be easy to quote extracts from communica- 

 tions from those who keep and favor the variety, showing 

 the high opinion held as to their laying power, but such 

 testimonials emanating from interested parties are some- 

 times of little value. They are apt to bring to mind the 

 story of the gentleman who wrote, "My fowls are laying 

 atrociously, but my poultryman is a first-class liar and 

 keeps up the reputation of the firm." 



It is, however, to the point that a week or two ago a 

 gentleman who has studied poultry farming for many 

 years in America and Europe, writing on "Modern 

 Economical Poultry Keeping," proposing the keeping of 

 from 2,000 to 3,000 birds on an acre, says. "The fowl for 

 egg forming should be the Buff Leghorn." And I believe 

 he is not a member of any specialty club, nor a breeder of 

 the variety he recommends. 



WHITE LEGHORN- PULLET 

 South Afr 



ibited by Geo. Pat 



ntein. JohannesburiT, South .\fr 



White Leghorns in South Africa 



MR. PATMORE in a letter dated July 29, 1911, ad- 

 dressed to F. L. Piatt, Associate Editor, Reliable 

 Poultry Journal, makes the following introduc- 

 tory statements relating to his strain of White Leghorns: 

 "I call my birds South African as I bred them 26 years 

 and have been very careful not to get the birds too big 

 and clumsy. They are splendid layers, the eggs averaging 

 six and seven to the pound. 



"I attributed my success to the blending of a pen of 

 birds I imported from America with a pen received from 

 England in the early days of iny poultry keeping out here 

 and making a specialty of White Leghorns; at six dif- 

 ferent shows this year I have beaten the imported English 

 birds. The American White Leghorns are by far the better 



layers when compared with the modern English birds, but 

 they are rather small and seem to get smaller out here 

 after the second year's breeding with them. I do not think 

 breeders can do better if they want a good all round 

 White Leghorn than to follow my example. Of course, it 

 takes time to bring them up to win at shows and be pro- 

 lific layers, but I can safely say that I have accomplished 

 this with my White Leghorns." 



The specimen illustrated above, while showing the 

 desired length of body lacks the fine and graceful lines of 

 the American Leghorns. The comb, head, neck, back, 

 body and tail are more of the Minorca type, but for utility 

 purposes the shape of the South African White Leghorr 

 is very good. 



